Ep.512 – Bassnectar @ Bridgestone Arena – Nashville, TN 12-31-11

Bassnectar New Year’s Eve Video Concert Reviews

Bassnectar New Year’s Eve Review – Bridgestone Arena – Nashville, TN

There were many fantastic New Year’s Eve parties to choose from in Nashville, but there’s no doubt that You Tell Concerts made the right decision by celebrating the start of 2012 with Bassnectar.

In the heart of downtown, a barrier closed off lower Broadway for the city’s free Lynyrd Skynyrd show and music note “ball” drop. Just outside that barrier, a faction totally opposite your average Southern Rock fan gathered for a night of severe bass-dropping Dubstep, that can only be described as unworldly.

The sold-out Bridgestone Arena was swarming with teenagers and twenty-somethings armed with LED “rage toys” and dressed in prismatic ensembles of fur, feathers, body paint, and animal garb. Large illuminated black and white striped space-shaped ornaments hung from the ceiling and the sounds of Break Science thundered through the venue as we made our way through the aisles down to the liberating luxury of the floor.

Break Science was a prime opener, incorporating live drums and Hip-Hop elements warming up the audience with something a little smoother than Bassnectar and serving up a selection of styles to dance to. Even the senior citizen security guard standing next to me enjoyed them. I know because he was sashaying at his post; so precious and equally awesome.

Bassnectar took the stage around 11:00 PM and the arena lost it. Like some form of colossal Gypsy powwow, tribal sticks were raised high and the kids were jumping, twisting, and gyrating in bliss, as if a spirit of bass had taken over their bodies, or maybe it was the 110 decibels these Bassnectar shows reach.

Winner of the Bassnectar NYE Poster Contest

This is kind of crazy, because I noted the following before seeing the artwork that won the poster contest for this NYE event. From the viewpoint of a balcony seat, it felt as if Lorin (Bassnectar) was the “Queen,” and we were all honeybees in the hive. Of course the throne was made of monstrous screens displaying psychedelic imagery that made my sober mind a little hazy. Let us not forget the use of multi-colored lasers and fire balls…I can only imagine how magical this show must have been for those experimenting with a ‘higher level of consciousness.”

The Bassnectar family is a loving one though, so I feel there’s little room for freak-outs. During the show, there were crew members in the front of the stage stocked with water bottles, keeping those squashed in the pit (many who had been waiting at the venue several hours prior to the doors opening) hydrated. At one point, a young lady offered me grapes on a silver platter; how thoughtful.

About a minute before midnight, a loud holler came from the back of the floor area, and a group of extra-peacockish Bass Heads on Parade (some on stilts) snaked through the floor crowd. Bassnectar cued the ten-second countdown to 2012, which triggered a balloon-bass drop. This gave a whole new life to the party, which continued until 2:00 in the morning.

Bassnectar began to wind down his three-hour set with a short speech thanking Nashville and everyone that put the show together. He also shared his New Year’s resolution, which was also posted on his Facebook page.

“I am so thankful for this magical life and the chance to share it with all of you…My resolution for 2012 is to constantly remember how precious this life is, how much i have to be thankful for, and to continue giving back.”

He then went into what I think was an appropriately tender song for that moment, Imogen Heap’s “Hide and Seek.” The concert continued for awhile after that, but the intensity started to turn into a euphoric side of Bassnectar. It was still powerful and certainly not putting anyone to sleep…just lowering the heart rate a tad.

The show let out and some went on to after parties. I’m sure some ended up at Broadway’s honky-tonks hanging with the leftover Skynyrd fans. Some waited hours sitting on the sidewalk trying to hail a cab. Wherever we ended up after the historical Bassnectar NYE arena show…we all had some interesting stories to tell, and most likely, some sore muscles. Dancing is serious business.

At first, I thought seeing a DJ at an arena was such a weird concept. I guess I felt this way because back in my rave days, everything was so secretive and underground. This makes perfect sense and the security adds a comforting level of safety for both kids and parents. Surely, we’ll be seeing more of these dance parties coming through Bridgestone now that Bassnectar has broken the ground so successfully.

The Nashville NYE Bass Heads - Photo from Bassnectar's Facebook Page

If you were at this Bassnectar show, please comment and let us know your experience…because – “When You Tell Concerts…It’s Cooler!”

good review of the show. it's crazy how you referenced the beehive and him being the "queen". in a "higher level of consciousness" i had this feeling so many times over with all the lights and Lorin just destroying everyone's mind constantly. this show was a huge statement for the EDM industry. one artist being able to sell out an arena and bring everything he has to the table to create the most intense feeling of bass love i've ever experienced. there's plenty of room for freak out when all you're surrounded by is the most loving, caring bass heads having the time of their life.

Not only was this show special to everyone who went there (including Lorin who actually cried when he saw just what they were going to be able to do with the lights and seats in the arena), but it was definitely special for the whole electronic scene as this massive arena was filled with an evergrowing bass family that watches out for itself. The days of the underground raves is changing but so are the people listening to the music. Note that it is specifically at Bassnectar shows that i feel this uncontrollable feeling of love for ur fellow ragers and the security literally has their work cut out for them as the crowd usually takes care of themselves for the most part. Ive never seen an electronic artist care so deeply for his fans that his enthusiasm inspires all who partake to be creative/safe/helpful/and to think for themselves. I saw one girl start having seizures at the beginning of his set from the strobe lights and three guys lifted her above their shoulders and out of the crowd immediately while all these other hands are handing them water and fruit and ambassadors are spraying them with cold water and directing them to the first aid. This show rocked though, it was my 13th nectar show and as i do hold the first 4 or 5 in high regards since he was still underground and played alot of more experimental dreaminess, this would definitely be my favorite HUGE nectar show as in festival/basscenter sets as it took advantage of such a big place but did it from the safety of Lorins own independant record label, THAT is one of the major feats of this night. The fact that no mainstream record company is getting any of the income that he brought in and he's still able to use the power of such a commercial and massive arena to provide us with such a mindblowing experience. The bassnectar experience is simply a very pure form of celebration that really does change the way people interact and even think afterwards, and it's the fact that Lorin leads by example as the role model for which we should all think/act/be more like. too much love for this man this show and this family. at a skrillex or even a deadmau5 show or rusko or any other edm acts right now, the bros will dance too violently and literally get into fights, but not at a nectar show. it's like in that song "elevate" the slogan for the bassnectar family should be "ladi dadi, we love to pahtty, we don't cause trouble and we don't bother nobody"

The only words I can really use to describe this concert would be "next level." No one but Lorin would pack a venue that large with so many lights, effects, and speakers, just to make the show better for everyone involved including the people in the back row. Seriously, I almost wish i would have been at the back so i could have gotten a better view of the lights as a whole. It was completely apparent as soon as I walked in that Lorin had put a lot of thought and time into making this show special, and it was the absolute craziest and wildest moment of my life when new years came around and Above & Beyond was rocking 10,000 people's world at once. Wobblefan's description of the love in the air at these shows is completely accurate. Everyone is there to have a good time, but at the same time keeping an eye out for everyone around them. One of the biggest and most enjoyable aspects of these shows is the overall atmosphere, 10,000 people in unity and harmony like you've never seen. It's an example that should be followed by everyone. Lorin has done something revolutionary here and his concerts are a one of a kind experience that should be on everyone's bucket list. You'll never feel as close to a stranger as you will at a Bassnectar show. Lorin, I f#@%ing love you man. You're a much needed inspiration to us all, keep it up.

This was literally the best night of my life. Lorin is the best dubstep artist out there right now and his live concerts are on an even higher level. The best word I can use to describe that night is magical. Nothing less. The music, people, and lights were just insane. This is going to sound weird but I'm almost about to cry writing this, that's how good it was. The night changed my life, I don't know in what way, I just feel like I know more. Basically, what I'm saying is you have to go to one of his concerts. I had no idea what I was getting into when I waited eight hours to get floor wristbands (I was right in the front). I was incredible. However much money you have to spend, do it.

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